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Many of us like to put on the news to watch or have some background noise. Even in a world of cord-cutting and streaming sticks, many people still choose to use cable or an antenna. Sometimes, setting this up might not be as straightforward on an LG TV.
If you have basic cable or an over-the-air antenna, a common issue with LG smart TVs is when it can’t find channels. Various issues can result in your LG TV not finding channels, but fortunately, they are fairly straightforward to resolve.
As strange as living in a digital world sounds, an over-the-air antenna is a great way to watch dozens of free channels. Even if you subscribe to a streaming service or two, a TV antenna gives you access to broadcast channels.
If your LG smart TV struggles to find channels, it may be because your antenna has been knocked out of position. This can happen during a strong storm or due to unfavorable weather conditions like wind or rain.
When checking your antenna, keep these things in mind:
Sometimes, the problem with an LG TV not finding channels lies with the provider and not your TV.
Your cable company may be experiencing technical difficulties affecting your signal strength. This could be the result of service on cable lines or adverse weather.
Your LG TV’s inability to find channels could result from criminal activity. Throughout the country, enterprising thieves are stealing communication lines and reselling the copper wiring contained within.
This way, you’ll know whether the problem is isolated to your cable TV service or affects all your bundled services. If the problem persists, you may need to contact your cable company.
Another reason you might not find channels on your LG TV because you need to tune your channels. If your channels are out of tune, they will not correspond with your LG remote control, making watching TV difficult.
For newer models, follow these steps to channel tune (this procedure is also known as auto-tuning) your LG TV automatically:
You can also channel-tune your LG TV manually and program only those channels you want to watch. Here’s how:
For older LG TV models, the steps for tuning channels can be found here.
Another common reason you can’t find channels on your LG TV is the inputs aren’t plugged in correctly.
Whether your TV signal comes from cable, satellite, streaming services, or an external antenna, a loose connection can prevent your LG TV from finding channels to watch.
Make sure all your device cables are plugged in securely and aren’t damaged.
While you’re at it, if you have cable TV, check the coax cable and make sure it is properly connected to the box.
Another way to resolve the problem of your LG TV not finding channels is to update the firmware. Keeping the operating software up-to-date is recommended for any smart device, not just your LG TV.
You can set up your LG TV to update its software automatically. For this to work, your TV needs a Wi-Fi connection. Follow these steps to update the software for your LG TV:
Depending on the model and year of manufacture for your LG TV, methods for updating software can vary.
If all else fails, you can try resetting your LG TV to reboot the TV’s internal operating system. This will likely resolve the problem with your LG TV not finding channels.
You can do two types of resets on an LG TV: a soft reset and a factory reset. It is advisable to try a soft reset first because your personal preferences will remain saved. To do this, either:
To reset your LG TV back to its original factory settings, follow these steps:
If your LG TV is still unable to find channels, you may need to find additional troubleshooting assistance. Tech Supportal is a great resource for resolving technical issues for various devices and equipment, including LG TVs.You can also seek assistance from LG’s support site.
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